amber/CHANGELOG

3 Jun 2019 - Release 0.23.2
===================================

* Some fixes.
* API for `fetch` in Platform.
* Last release compatible with IE9 and IE10.
  * Fixing issue #1240 needs operations not possible there.

Commits: https://lolg.it/amber/amber/commits/0.23.2


26 Mar 2019 - Release 0.23.1
===================================

* Deprecate global "SmalltalkParser".
* Lot of small fixes in engine and IDEs.

Commits: https://lolg.it/amber/amber/commits/0.23.1


25 Feb 2019 - Release 0.23.0
===================================

* Remove kernel-level deprecations.
* `imports:` loaded lazily using isReady promise
  * you can have circular `import:` clauses
  * you cannot presume your `import:` dependency is initialized in your own class-level `initialize`
* `aJsObject Uppercase: foo and: bar` is called as `aJsObject.Uppercase(foo, bar)`
  * only the unary `aJsObject Uppercase` is special and returns `aJsObject.Uppercase`
  * so far all uppercase selectors made an exception, even ones with args
* `aJsObject selector: foo withMoreArguments: bar` fails if `aJsObject.selector` is not a function
  * only the single-arg `aJsObject selector: foo` sets the value `aJsObject selector = foo`
  * so far even more-than-one-arg ones did set the value denoted by first keyword
* Namespace change: amber_core => amber/core.
  * Backward compatibility mapping added, so old code should load and save with new implicit deps.
  * You must edit explicit deps (aka `imports:`) as well as Gruntfile, deploy, testing and devel .js files yourself.
* Instance variables are now compiled as `obj.ivarName` instead of `obj["@ivarName"]`.
  * There is compat layer so old code is loadable.
* Classes can be created using API containing `slots: {#foo. #bar}` instead of `instanceVariableNames: 'foo bar'`
  * Smalltalk files are saved using this new API.
  * No actual slots yet, only 'plain data slots' eg. instance variables.

Commits: https://lolg.it/amber/amber/commits/0.23.0


18 Feb 2019 - Release 0.22.6
===================================

* Bug fix in the use of recently added isReady promise for packages.

Commits: https://lolg.it/amber/amber/commits/0.22.6


15 Feb 2019 - Release 0.22.5
===================================

* Bug fix in recently introduced amber/helpers loadPackages.
* Some internal API changed to be future-proof for lazy dependents.

Commits: https://lolg.it/amber/amber/commits/0.22.5


11 Feb 2019 - Release 0.22.4
===================================

* Fixes.
* Flatter Collection hierarchy with traits, remove IndexableCollection class.
* Remove some old IE8 cruft.
* Push CharacterArray down, make it and alias to String and deprecate it.

Commits: https://lolg.it/amber/amber/commits/0.22.4


24 Jun 2018 - Release 0.22.1
===================================

* Added one usable API: {BlockClosure,Class} >> provided.

Commits: https://lolg.it/amber/amber/commits/0.22.1


22 Jun 2018 - Release 0.22.0
===================================

* Simple pragmas.
  * `<inlineJS: '...'>` is an (only implemented so far) pragma.
* Remove legacy inline JS syntax (only <inlineJS: '...'> works).
* Programmatic loading of packages works.
* Use new @ambers/sdk (at least 0.10.5) (formerly amber-dev).
* Remove some older deprecated API.

Commits: https://lolg.it/amber/amber/commits/0.22.0


8 Apr 2018 - Release 0.21.1
===================================

* A few new APIs, one bug fix.

Commits: https://lolg.it/amber/amber/commits/0.21.1


28 Feb 2018 - Release 0.21.0
===================================

* Kernel assumes global variable `global` exists.
  * In browser, it must be polyfilled before loading amber.
  * Smalltalk-level code should continue to use `Platform globals`.

Commits: https://lolg.it/amber/amber/commits/0.21.0


12 Nov 2017 - Release 0.20.0
===================================

* Kernel changes, so differences in .js files. Recompile your projects with `grunt`.
* Use new amber-dev (0.10.1 atm).

Commits: https://lolg.it/amber/amber/commits/0.20.0


7 Oct 2017 - Release 0.19.2
===================================

* Silent bower-only release
  * Removed dependency on amber/Platform and amber/compatibility.
  * Thus, can be used with amber-dev 0.10.0 and grunt template 0.19.5.

Commits: https://lolg.it/amber/amber/commits/0.19.2.


18 Jun 2017 - Release 0.19.1
===================================

* Kernel slimmed, things moved to Smalltalk side.
* Kernel (via kernel-runtime.js) calls only this Smalltalk-side API:
  * AmberBootstrapInitialization class >> run
  * Message class >> selector:arguments:notUnderstoodBy:
  * Dictionary class >> newFromPairs:
  * ErrorHandler class >> handleError:
  * JSObjectProxy class >> on:
  * NonBooleanReceiver class >> signalOn:
  * TMasterBehavior >> enterOrganization
  * TMasterBehavior >> leaveOrganization
  * TBehaviorProvider >> methodOrganizationEnter:andLeave:
* Set fix (#1224).

Commits: https://lolg.it/amber/amber/commits/0.19.1.


20 April 2017 - Release 0.19.0
===================================

* Removed BehaviorBody in favour of traits TBehaviorDefaults and TBehaviorProvider.
* Move Thenable class to TThenable trait.
* Removed `.allowJavaScriptCalls` flag.
* Internal `.isNil` deprecated in favour of `.a$nil`.
* Internal `.klass` deprecated in favour of `.a$cls`.
* Both 'self' and '$self' compiled in method code.
  * '$self' used as receiver, 'self' used to pass a value.
* Libs bumped: amber-contrib-{web,jquery,legacy}, helios, domite, silk.

Breaks fw compat, uses `a$nil` and `a$cls` when compiling / saving code.

May break bw compat for code using `.allowJavaScriptCalls` (very unlikely).

Commits: https://lolg.it/amber/amber/commits/0.19.0.


7 April 2017 - Release 0.18.5
===================================

* Fix inability to change ivars.
* Wrapper-JQuery bumped to use inlineJS: syntax.

Commits: https://lolg.it/amber/amber/commits/0.18.5.


5 March 2017 - Release 0.18.4
===================================

* Fix export of extension trait methods.

Commits: https://lolg.it/amber/amber/commits/0.18.4.


22 February 2017 - Release 0.18.3
===================================

* Traits, with a few limitations and incomplete IDE support.
* Methods / classes / traits are recompiled when moved (fix #1142, #1170).

Commits: https://lolg.it/amber/amber/commits/0.18.3.


1 January 2017 - Release 0.18.2
===================================

* DOM-related stuff in own package (not loaded by default, use imports:).
* Accompanying libs updated and semver-bumped: Web, Domite, Helios-* and IDE.
  * Silk is high-level enough so no bump neither b/c of inlineJS: nor b/c of DOM stuff needed.
  * Wrapper-JQuery bump postponed.

Commits: https://lolg.it/amber/amber/commits/0.18.2.


21 November 2016 - Release 0.18.1
===================================

* Parser fails fast on mistyped inlineJS: form.
  * Previously, it treated it as legacy form.

Commits: https://lolg.it/amber/amber/commits/0.18.1.


5 November 2016 - Release 0.18.0
===================================

* Remove some old internal pieces.
* Allow new syntax for inline JS method body: <inlineJS: '...js code...'>
  * If used in libraries / reused modules, breaks fw compat.
  * Old syntax is deprecated, but retained in libraries for some grace period.

May break bw compat because of removed internal pieces.

Commits: https://lolg.it/amber/amber/commits/0.18.0.


19 October 2016 - Release 0.17.0
===================================

* Remove some deprecated classes and methods.
* Fix fw compat break of 0.16.1.

Breaks bw compat because of removed deprecated pieces.

Commits: https://lolg.it/amber/amber/commits/0.17.0.


27 September 2016 - Release 0.16.1
===================================

* Fix node builds (lazy loaded kernel-runtime wasn't packaged).
* amber-dev upgrade (to fix UMDs checking for module before define).
* Kernel files use 'use strict'.

<del>Breaks fw compat (uses $boot.nilAsClass in supersends)</del>.

Commits: https://lolg.it/amber/amber/commits/0.16.1.


25 September 2016 - Release 0.16.0
===================================

* boot.js overhaul:
  * brikz external, reworked to less imperative (no ensure call).
  * addClass returns the class.
  * no wrapClassName, using setClassConstructor in later stage.
  * traverseClassTree (eg allSubclassesDo:) in kernel, not allSubclasses.
  * runtime part extracted to kernel-runtime.js.
  * runtime loaded lazily, packages can load without runtime in.
  * initialize returns a Promise.
  * init done automatically upon class creation if runtime is active.
* amber-dev upgrade (to honour initialize returning a Promise).
* Edits relating to lolg.it move.
* Fixes.

May break bw compat for kernel API using code.

Commits: https://lolg.it/amber/amber/commits/0.16.0.


6 February 2016 - Release 0.15.1
===================================

* From this version on, Amber will fully comply to semver:
  * Any breaking change will result in increase of first non-zero number.
  * If first non-zero number is not changed, no breaking changes are present in release.
* Changed how ST globals are implemented, resulting in shorter and faster code.
* Not working any more on IE8 (b/c of changed globals).
* amber.initialize(...) returns a promise.
* JS global Promise must be present.
  * If missing, you can polyfill with `bower install amber-compat-es2015 --save`.
* JS Promise is wrapped in ST class Promise.
* Accompanying libs updated and semver-bumped:
  * Wrapper-JQuery, Web, Domite, Silk, IDE, Helios-*.

Commits: https://github.com/amber-smalltalk/amber/compare/0.14.18...0.15.1.


1 January 2016 - Release 0.14.18
===================================

Maintenance release.
Cleaning the code in compiler and parser.
Some bug fixes (in compiler/interpreter as well as in other places).

Breaks fw compat (uses $boot.dnu in supercall).

Commits: https://github.com/amber-smalltalk/amber/compare/0.14.17...0.14.18


6 October 2015 - Release 0.14.17
===================================

Maintenance release.
Some fixes, optimizations and moving things around.
Using virtual module "amber/Platform". This needs to be mapped
to either "amber_core/Platform-Browser" or "amber_core/Platform-Node".

Commits: https://github.com/amber-smalltalk/amber/compare/0.14.16...0.14.17


20 June 2015 - Release 0.14.16
===================================

Bugfix release - Date >> =, Class >> javascriptConstructor:.

Commits: https://github.com/amber-smalltalk/amber/compare/0.14.15...0.14.16


9 June 2015 - Release 0.14.15
===================================

Bugfix release - in some browsers, package commit failed.

Commits: https://github.com/amber-smalltalk/amber/compare/0.14.14...0.14.15


24 May 2015 - Release 0.14.14
===================================

Highlights:

* Extraction of `Web` and `Wrappers-JQuery` to own repos.
* Amber core itself formally with no production dependencies.
* Packages with 'use strict'.
* `PlatformInterface` replaced by services `Terminal` and `Platform`.

Commits: https://github.com/amber-smalltalk/amber/compare/0.14.13...0.14.14


29 March 2015 - Release 0.14.13
===================================

Highlights:

* Rename namespaces of `Web` and `Wrappers-JQuery`.

Commits: https://github.com/amber-smalltalk/amber/compare/0.14.12...0.14.13


22 February 2015 - Release 0.14.12
===================================

Highlights:

* Wrapped JS object can be put on streams via aStream << anObject.

Commits: https://github.com/amber-smalltalk/amber/compare/0.14.11...0.14.12


21 February 2015 - Release 0.14.11
===================================

Highlights:

* `anObject in: aBlock` added
* ProtoStream with extracted basic streaming protocol.

Commits: https://github.com/amber-smalltalk/amber/compare/0.14.10...0.14.11


17 February 2015 - Release 0.14.10
===================================

Highlights:

* Package renames, classes moved between packages:
  * Web and Wrappers-JQuery in amber-contrib-xxx namespaces,
  * Platform-Xxx packages to keep Kernel-Xxx to kernel.
* Some core speedups.

Commits: https://github.com/amber-smalltalk/amber/compare/0.14.4...0.14.10


1 February 2015 - Release 0.14.4
===================================

Highlights:

* Compiler now allows the "import them as package-global vars" of 0.14.3.
* Some core speedups.

Commits: https://github.com/amber-smalltalk/amber/compare/0.14.3...0.14.4


20 January 2015 - Release 0.14.3
===================================

Highlights:

* Package can specify external dependencies and import them as package-global vars.

Commits: https://github.com/amber-smalltalk/amber/compare/0.14.2...0.14.3
Issues: https://github.com/amber-smalltalk/amber/issues?q=milestone%3A0.14.3+is%3Aclosed

For the most important API related changes see the file API-CHANGES.txt.


11 January 2015 - Release 0.14.2
===================================

Highlights:

* Slimmed core - es5-shim and IE8 compatibilty tweaks in amber-compat-* repos.

Commits: https://github.com/amber-smalltalk/amber/compare/0.14.1...0.14.2

For the most important API related changes see the file API-CHANGES.txt.


8 January 2015 - Release 0.14.1
===================================

Highlights:

* Slimmed core - legacy IDE, Examples and Benchfib in own repo.
* Smalltalk optOut: used instead allowJavaScriptCalls to make jQuery work.

Commits: https://github.com/amber-smalltalk/amber/compare/0.14.0...0.14.1

For the most important API related changes see the file API-CHANGES.txt.


1 January 2015 - Release 0.14.0
===================================

Highlights:

* Removed deprecated stuff and backward compatibility support code.
* You can wrap any object using #asJQuery.

Commits: https://github.com/amber-smalltalk/amber/compare/0.13.2...0.14.0
Issues:  https://github.com/amber-smalltalk/amber/issues?q=is%3Aissue+is%3Aclosed+milestone%3A0.14.0

For the most important API related changes see the file API-CHANGES.txt.


31 December 2014 - Release 0.13.3
===================================

This is a planned maintenance release.
It contains everything 0.14.0 contains,
but it retains all the backwards compatibility stuff,
which is going to be removed in 0.14.0.


22 October 2014 - Release 0.13.2
===================================

This is maintenance release to upgrade CodeMirror
jointly in Amber and Helios.

Highlights:

* CodeMirror upgrade for Amber and Helios.
* Cleaned of all (as far as findable) uses of deprecated code.
* Recompile using `grunt` in Windows now does not add cr characters.

Commits: https://github.com/amber-smalltalk/amber/compare/0.13.0...0.13.2

For the most important API related changes see the file API-CHANGES.txt.


10 October 2014 - Release 0.13.1
===================================

Highlights:

* Reworked cleaner DNU handling in core.
* `amber init` fully embraced as the way to create new project.
* Helios IDE is extracted and is now a project on its own.
  * It is included as dev-dependency in any new project by default.
* Movable data out of index.html:
  * list of production packages in deploy.js;
  * list of development packages in devel.js;
  * project amd mappings in local.amd.json;
  * libraries' amd mappings in lib_directory.amd.json.
* 'Batteries included' deployment via `grunt deploy`.
* 0.13.1 because of technical issues w/ 0.13.0 release process.

Commits: https://github.com/amber-smalltalk/amber/compare/0.12.6...0.13.0
Issues:  https://github.com/amber-smalltalk/amber/issues?q=is%3Aissue+is%3Aclosed+milestone%3A0.13.0

For the most important API related changes see the file API-CHANGES.txt.


1 July 2014 - Release 0.12.6
===================================

Highlights:

* SUnit Runner in Helios IDE.
* `amber` and `amberc` cli moved to `external` directory
  and to dedicated npm package.
* Bootstrap 3 can be used in Amber projects
  (no more nameclash with Helios' bootstrap 2 using bootstrap2.3.2 name).
* Wider range of jQuery versions allowed.
* Amber now parses `$c` character literal.
* `amber` is not to be installed globally any more.
  Instead, `npm install -g amber-cli` installs cli tooling.
* After installing the cli tooling, `amber init` initializes
  new project if run in empty directory.

Commits: https://github.com/amber-smalltalk/amber/compare/0.12.4...0.12.6
Issues:  https://github.com/amber-smalltalk/amber/issues?milestone=13&state=closed

For the most important API related changes see the file API-CHANGES.txt.


11 April 2014 - Release 0.12.4
===================================

Highlights:

* Fixed backward compatibility for pre-0.12.3 loader syntax.
* `namespace/_source` is not needed to map and is recommended
  not to use; `.st` files are by default committed to the `.js` location.
* All sources, including js files into the src/ directory
* Many improvements in Helios, especially in its debugger and
  inspector, as well as UI-related improvements
* New Helios dark theme by @BenjaminVanRyseghem

Commits: https://github.com/amber-smalltalk/amber/compare/0.12.3...0.12.4
Issues:  https://github.com/amber-smalltalk/amber/issues?milestone=12&state=closed

For the most important API related changes see the file API-CHANGES.txt.


22 January 2014 - Release 0.12.3
===================================

Highlights:

* JQuery updated to ~1.10.2; jquery-ui updated to match
* Subclasses of `nil` can be created
* Several fixes for IE8
* amber.js can be loaded asynchronously (it must
  have an id 'amber-path-mapper' in that case)
* CodeMirror updated to ~3.20.0

Commits: https://github.com/amber-smalltalk/amber/compare/0.12.2...0.12.3
Issues:  https://github.com/amber-smalltalk/amber/issues?milestone=11&state=closed

For the most important API related changes see the file API-CHANGES.txt.


3 December 2013 - Release 0.12.2
===================================

Highlights:

* Loading Amber in nested pages now possible (via additional `data-libs` attribute of the `<script>` tag which loads `amber.js`)
* IDE related fixes
* Contributions Guide
* Improved Collections
* Amber Server responds with `not found` instead of `internal server error` if `index.html` could not be found

Commits: https://github.com/amber-smalltalk/amber/compare/0.12.1...0.12.2
Issues:  https://github.com/amber-smalltalk/amber/issues?milestone=10&state=closed

For the most important API related changes see the file API-CHANGES.txt.


14 November 2013 - Release 0.12.1
===================================

Fixes a bug in Helios preventing class definitions from being compiled

Commits: https://github.com/amber-smalltalk/amber/compare/0.12.0...0.12.1
Issues:  https://github.com/amber-smalltalk/amber/issues?milestone=9&state=closed


11 November 2013 - Release 0.12.0
===================================

After 3 months of work we are pleased to announce the 0.12.0 release of Amber.

Besides the usual bug fixes a lot of new features have emerged.

The biggest change is the switch to RequireJS to specify Amber package dependencies
and for loading the packages as AMD modules.
Amber is now additionally available as Bower [2] component.
Bower is also used to manage required JavaScript libraries which don't have to be kept
around in the repository anymore.

The repository layout was restructured to provide a cleaner separation of different Amber parts:
* Smalltalk code is located in 'st'
* Compiled Amber packages are located in 'js'
* Supporting JavaScript code is located in 'support'

Together with the RequireJS changes the specifying their dependencies the Brickz [3]
reconfigurable micro composition system was introduced.
This is used for

On the Smalltalk side support has been added for writing exponential numbers of the form 2e5.

Helios (the new IDE) is progressing nicely and has seen a lot of improvements.
One of the great parts is the new stepping debugger which is also making progress.
To try Helios, open the helios.html page or
evaluate in any other amber page `require('amber/helpers').popupHelios()`.

The last enhancements target the commandline compiler which can be used as
`amberc` (an executable script) or as a Grunt task.
The following features have been added:
 * generation of shebang line (#!/usr/bin/env node)
 * specification of target namespace (`-n` flag; `amd_namespace` option in Grunt)
 * specification of additional library directories (`-L` flag; `library_dirs` option in Grunt)
The following features have been removed:
 * creation of *.deploy.js files (`-d` flag; `deploy` option in Grunt)
 * optimization passes via Closure compiler (`-o`/`-O` flags; `closure_jar` option in Grunt)
   The same behavior can be achieved by using specific Grunt tasks

Additionally, the Grunt task now handles the -v/--verbose flag which triggers the same behavior
as the `verbose` option which can be specified in the Gruntfile.


Some numbers about this release (starting from 0.11.0):

* 660 commits
* 10 committers
* 66 unit tests added
* 152 issues were closed
* 379 unit tests in total


Commits: https://github.com/amber-smalltalk/amber/compare/0.11.0...0.12.0
Issues: https://github.com/amber-smalltalk/amber/issues?direction=desc&milestone=8&page=1&sort=updated&state=closed

For the most important API related changes see the file API-CHANGES.txt.


* Installing Amber from NPM

To install Amber from NPM, run

    npm install amber

* Installing Amber from Bower

To install Amber from Bower, run

    bower install amber

* Migration from Amber 0.11.0

First, the loading of JavaScript files must be adapted. The custom loader has been replaced with
requirejs for loading files in the browser. New loader code is thouroughly
explained in [4].

After updating the loader part, `.st` files need to be recompiled
into new AMD `.js` files. During loader changes, a namespace was choosen and will be needed for recompilation.

Go to your directory with `.st` files and issue this from the shell:

```sh
<path-to-amber>/bin/amberc -l SUnit,Canvas -n <chosen-namespace> -D <path-for-compiled-js-files> *.st
```

In windows, use `\` as path separator, the rest is identical.

The `-l SUnit,Canvas` is just a general guess, if your code depends on more (or less) non-kernel packages from amber, list them here accordingly.

This migrate scenario only covers simple deployments with your project's code and amber.
If your project is more complicated, using libraries and packages from multiple sources,
it is hard to give general advices to migrate - you must do it library by library,
giving each location its own namespace, and `-L` option of `amberc`
comes handy when integrating; ask on the mailing list if problems arise.

[1] http://requirejs.org/
[2] http://bower.io/
[3] https://github.com/amber-smalltalk/brikz
[4] https://github.com/amber-smalltalk/amber/wiki/How-to-load-amber


9 July 2013 - Release 0.11.0
===============================

Three months have passed and we are happy to announce the release
of Amber 0.11.0!

Some numbers about this release:

* 494 commits
* 13 committers
* increasing the number of core committers to 25
* 50 unit tests added to the kernel
* 313 unit tests in total

Since the last release 60 issues were closed, bringing us to 499
issues closed.

This release includes a lot of bug fixes, improvements to the
CLI, as well as a preview of the next IDE, named Helios. Amber
now also uses a CI server [1].

To try the Helios, the new IDE, open the helios.html page, or
evaluate in any other amber page `amber.loadHelios()`.

The compiler also received some improvements, especially
regarding message send optimisations and super sends.

Here's the list of commits and closed issues:
https://github.com/amber-smalltalk/amber/compare/0.10.0...0.11.0
https://github.com/amber-smalltalk/amber/issues?direction=desc&milestone=6&page=1&sort=updated&state=closed

There is a lot more to come with Helios, a stepping debugger
based on the AST is in progress and currently in the 'debugger'
branch on GitHub.

* Installing Amber from NPM

To install amber from NPM, run

    npm install amber


* Migration from Amber 0.10.0

Amber compiled code should be compatible with Amber 0.10.0, but
recompiling is needed in order to get contexts working:

    Compiler new recompile: (Package named: 'MyPackage') classes.
    (Package named: 'MyPackage') commit

For API related changes see the file API-CHANGES.txt.


13 March 2013 - Release 0.10.0
================================

Here's a summary of change since the 0.9.1 release:

- Travis CI jobs
- Almost 300 issues closed
- 150 new unit tests written
- All classes in the Kernel are documented

- New and much improved compiler toolchain, providing:
  - Semantic analysis
  - AST Node annotation
  - Intermediate representation (easier to optimize)
  - Better inlining
  - an AST interpreter
  - support for blocks contexts

- New build system based on grunt.js, replacing the old makefiles
- New bin/amberc compiler written in Amber/Node.js
- SUnit improvements and cleanup, with support for async assertions
- Improved ClassBuilder with better class migration support
- Improved loader for third party packages
- New: Announcements
- Classes can be augmented by light-weight methods created from blocks
- Snippets of HTML can be marked to become virtual tags in HTMLCanvas
- Amber server supports Basic HTTP authentication (not recommended for production environments/unencrypted connections)
- New IDE on it's way for Amber 1.0



16 January 2012 - Release 0.9.1
=================================

Here's a summary of changes since the 0.9 release:

- 80 new unit tests written
- 52 issues fixed
- All classes in Kernel-Objects, Kernel-Classes and Kernel-Methods has been documented
- New documentation framework (see http://amber-lang.net/documentation.html)
- Better class organisations, "Kernel" package split into several packages
- First class packages have replaced class categories
- Internet Explorer 7+ compatibility
- New Announcement framework ported from Pharo
- New console-based REPL written in Amber using node.js
- Symbol class implemented together with object identity and #==
- New OrderedCollection and Set implementation
- Dictionary can now have any kind of object as keys. String-key dictionary has been renamed HashedCollection
- New TwitterWall example
- Improved HTML Canvas, now compatible with IE7
- Improved JSObjectProxy for seamless JavaScript objects access from Amber
- No more jQuery binding. Amber is fully capable of sending messages to JavaScript objects

13 September 2011 - Release 0.9
=================================
Amber has been evolving furiously since the presentation at ESUG 2011 in Edinburgh less than 3 weeks ago.

This is a summary:

Language, compiler and runtime

- New 100x faster parser built using PEGjs instead of the old parser built using PetitParser.
- New much faster ChunkParser implementation in handwritten Amber instead of using PetitParser.
- Improved parsing error report with quoted source code plus marker pinpointing parsing error.
- Removed PetitParser since it is no longer needed by Amber itself.
- Added compiler optimizations in the form of speculative inlining of specific messages and control structures.
- Added support for dynamic Arrays, just like in Squeak/Pharo.
- Added support for similar dynamic Dictionaries, not seen in other Smalltalks.
- Added & and | as allowed binary selectors and implemented them in Boolean.
- Added a Set implementation.
- Added first basic support for real Packages with dependency information.

...and various extensions, enhancements and bug fixes to the library classes.


Development environment

- A working Debugger with integrated inspector, proceed etc.
- A new structure with
- A working amberc command line compiler including a Makefile for recompiling the whole Amber.
- Enabled TestRunner in the IDE for running unit tests based on SUnit.
- Added "File in" button in Workspace to easily paste and filein source code in chunk format in the IDE.


Example code and ports

- Ported ProfStef interactive tutorial, available on Amber homepage but also in examples directory.
- Included the ESUG presentation as an example also in the examples directory.
- Several new examples running on Node.js and webOS included, all with Makefiles.


Various other things

- Issue tracker on github now used as primary source, closed a bunch of reported issues.
- Wiki pages on github with information on how to port code from other Smalltalks, lists of articles, tutorials, roadmap and more.